ASEAN StudiesASEAN StudiesUnit 3Unit 3

Getting to Know Getting to Know the Ten Membersthe Ten Members

Outline Outline Biography of ASEAN Countries

Politics, Geography and Economy of ASEAN Countries

Highlights of the ASEAN Countries

LaosLaos

The Land of Million Elephants

Laos Where is Laos?

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The country is bordered by Myanmar and China in the northwest, Vietnam to the east. Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Its population was estimated to be 6.5 million in 2012.

What is the capital of What is the capital of Laos?Laos?

Vientiane ( Viangchan) is the capital and largest city of Laos. It is situated on a plain just northeast of the Mekong River. The estimated population of the city is 754,000 (2009).

Politics Politics The politics of Laos takes place in the framework of a single-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly Sayasone, who also is LPRP general secretary. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers.

President Choummaly Sayasone

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong

Economy Economy Laos is one of Asia's poorest nations. Agriculture employs most of the Laotian workforce and accounts for about half of its gross domestic product. Rice is by far the chief crop; sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, and peanuts are also grown. Commercial crops include coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, and tea. Illegal opium and cannabis were long produced in the northwest, part of the "Golden Triangle" (which also includes neighboring portions of Thailand and Myanmar), but production there was largely eradicated by 2005.

Water buffalo, pigs, cattle, and poultry are raised, and fish from the rivers supplement the diet. Forests cover over half of the country; tropical hardwoods are cut and lac is extracted; much timber is exported illegally to Vietnam. Copper, gold, tin, and gypsum are mined; other mineral resources include gemstones. Manufacturing is limited; textiles and garments are the most important products. Tourism has become increasingly significant in the 21st cent, providing service jobs for Laotians.

HighlightsHighlights

Luang Prabang Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands)

is a city located in north central Laos. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries

Si Phan Don is a group of islands in the Mekong River in Southern Laos.

HighlightsHighlights

Vang Vieng Plain of Jarsis a tourism-oriented town in Laos. It is located in Vientiane province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The town lies on the Nam Song River.

is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos.

MyanmarMyanmarThe Land of Adventures

Where is Myanmar?

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country in Southeast Asia. The country is borderedbordered by China China to the north and northeast, Laos Laos to the east, Thailand Thailand to the southeast, the Andaman Sea and Bay of Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal Bengal to the south and southwest, Bangladesh to the Bangladesh to the west and India India to the northwest.

What is the capital of Myanmar?

Nay Pyi Taw, also spelled Nay Pyi Daw or Naypyidaw, is the new capital of Myanmar. The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield site 3 kilometers west of Pyinmana on 6 November 2005. Nay Pyi Taw is approximately 320 km north of Yangon. The capital's official name was announced on Armed Forces Day in March 2006.

PoliticsPoliticsBurma (also known as Myanmar) is a

unitary presidential constitutional republic under its 2008 constitution.

The President is the head of state and head of government. He oversees the Cabinet of Burma.

Historically, Burma was a monarchy ruled by various dynasties prior to the 19th century. The British colonized Burma in the late 19th century, and it was under the jurisdiction of the British Raj until 1937.

Independence EraIndependence EraOn 4 January 1948, Burma achieved independence from

Britain, and became a democracy based on the parliamentary system.

On the 19th of July 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Burma, a transitional government. But in July 1947, political rivals assassinated Aung San and several cabinet members. On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic, named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu as its first Prime Minister. Unlike most other former British colonies, it did not become a member of the Commonwealth. A bicameral parliament was formed, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and a Chamber of Nationalities.[1] 2]

EconomyEconomyThe Economy of Burma (Myanmar) is an emerging economy

with an estimated nominal GDP of $51.93 billion[5] and a purchasing power adjusted GDP of $83.74 billion.[5] Real growth rate is estimated at 5.5% for the 2011 fiscal year.[6]

Historically, Burma was the main trade route between India and China since 100 BC. The Mon Kingdom of lower Burma served as important trading center in the Bay of Bengal. After Burma was conquered by British, it became the wealthiest country in Southeast Asia. It was also once the world's largest exporter of rice. It produced 75% of the world's teak and had a highly literate population.[7]

After a parliamentary government was formed in 1948, Prime Minister U Nu embarked upon a policy of nationalization. The government also tried to implement a poorly thought out Eight-Year plan. By the 1950s, rice exports had fallen by two thirds and mineral exports by over 96%. The 1962 coup d'état was followed by an economic scheme called the Burmese Way to Socialism, a plan to nationalize all industries. The catastrophic program turned Burma into one of the world's most impoverished countries.[8]

IndustriesIndustriesThe major agricultural produce is ricerice which covers about

60% of the country's total cultivated land area. Rice accounts for 97% of total food grain production by weight.

Rubber plantations Rubber plantations are being promoted in areas of high elevation like Mong Mao. Sugar plantations are grown in the lowlands such as Mong Pawk District.[38]

Burma is also the world's second largest producer world's second largest producer of opium, accounting for 8% of entire world production and is a major source of illegal drugs, including amphetamines.[41] Other industries Other industries include agricultural goods, textiles, wood products, construction materials, gems, metals, oil and natural gas.

The Union of Myanmar's rulers depend on sales of precious stones such as sapphires, pearls and jade to fund their regime. Rubies are the biggest earner; 90% of the world's rubies come from the country, whose red stones are prized for their purity and hue. Thailand buys the majority of the country's gems. Burma's "Valley of Rubies", the mountainous Mogok area, 200 km (120 mi) north of Mandalay, is noted for its rare pigeon's blood rubies and blue sapphires.[55]

Leader Leader President Thein Sein President Thein Sein

is a Burmese politician and former military commander who has been President of Burma since March 2011. He was the Prime Minister from 2007 until 2011 and considered by some as a moderate and reformist in the post-junta government

Tourist AttractionsTourist Attractions

Shwedagon Pagoda

officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw, also known in English as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a 99 metres gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Burma.

Tourist AttractionsTourist Attractions

Baganis an ancient city

located in the Mandalay Region of Burma (Myanmar).

is a main draw for the country's nascent tourism industry. It is seen by many as equal in attraction to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.[1]

Tourist AttractionsTourist Attractions

Golden Rock is one of the breath-

taking and also a sacred place for Myanmar people.

is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda

Tourist AttractionsTourist Attractions

Mandalay is the second-largest city

and the last royal capital of Burma.

is the economic hub of Upper Burma and considered the center of Burmese culture. A continuing influx of Chinese immigrants, mostly from Yunnan, in the past twenty years, has reshaped the city's ethnic makeup and increased commerce with China.[6][7]

Tourist AttractionsTourist Attractions

Inle Lake is the second largest

lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an altitude of 2,900 feet (880 m).

PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Pearl of the The Pearl of the

Orient SeasOrient Seas

Where is the Philippines?Where is the Philippines?

(i/ˈfɪlɨpiːnz/; FI-lə-peenz; Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Repúblika ng Pilipinas), is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan; west across the South China Sea sits Vietnam; southwest is the island of Borneo across the Sulu Sea, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia; while to the east it is bounded by the Philippine Sea and the island-nation of Palau.

Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's greatest biodiversity.

At 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi), the Philippines is the 73rd-largest country in the world,[12] consisting of an archipelago of 7,107 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila while its most populous city is Quezon City.

With a population of more than 98 million people,[13] the Philippines is the seventh-most populated country in Asia and the 12th most populated country in the world. An additional 12 million Filipinos live overseas, comprising one of the world's largest and most influential diasporas.[14]

Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies. Various nations were established under the rule of Datus, Rajahs, Sultans or Lakans. Trade with China also introduced Chinese culture and settlement, which remain present to this day.

What is the capital of the What is the capital of the Philippines?Philippines?

ManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay.

GeographyGeographyThe Philippines is an archipelago of

7,107 islands[3] with a total land area, including inland bodies of water, of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi). Its 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi) of coastline makes it the country with the 5th longest coastline in the world.

Most of the mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo. It measures up to 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea level and is located on the island of Mindanao. The Galathea Depth in the Philippine Trench is the deepest point in the country and the third deepest in the world. The trench is located in the Philippine Sea.

The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf, and the Moro Gulf are other important bays. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar and Leyte but it is traversed by the San Juanico Bridge

Ifugao/Igorot utilized utilized terrace farming to to grow crops in the steep mountainous grow crops in the steep mountainous regions of northern Philippines.regions of northern Philippines.

EconomyEconomyThe national economy of the Philippines

is the 41st largest in the world, with an estimated 2013 gross domestic product (nominal) of $272.207 billion.[7] Primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits.[5] Major trading partners include the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Germany, Taiwan, and Thailand.[5] Its unit of currency is the Philippine peso (₱ or PHP).

Makati in in Metro Manila, the , the country's financial center.country's financial center.

A newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. Of the country's total labor force of around 38.1 million,[5] the agricultural sector employs close to 32% but contributes to only about 14% of GDP.

The industrial sector employs around 14% of the workforce and accounts for 30% of GDP. Meanwhile the 47% of workers involved in the services sector are responsible for 56% of GDP

Politics and Politics and GovernmentGovernment

The Philippines has a democratic government.[69] It is a constitutional republic with a presidential system. It is governed as a unitary state with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is largely free from the national government. There have been attempts to change the government to a federal, unicameral, or parliamentary government since the Ramos administration.[70][71]

The President functions as both head of state and head of government and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote for a single six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the cabinet.[3]

The bicameral Congress is composed of the Senate, serving as the upper house, with members elected to a six-year term, and the House of Representatives, serving as the lower house, with members elected to a three-year term. The senators are elected at large while the representatives are elected from both legislative districts and through sectoral representation.[3]

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding officer and fourteen associate justices, all of whom are appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.[

LeaderLeader

Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

The President of the Philippines (Filipino: Pangulo ng Pilipinas) is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The President leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Top Philippine Destinations

Rice TerracesThe Rice Terraces of the

Philippine Cordilleras were built 2,000 years ago and have been passed down from generation to generation. The Terraces were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.

Top Philippine Destinations

CHOCOLATE HILLSThe Chocolate Hills is a

geological formation in Bohol Province, Philippines. There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that turn brown in the dry season.

Top Philippine Destinations

BORACAYBoracay island is one of the most popular places in the Philippines. It is a beautiful small island surrounded by coral reefs with crystal blue water. Boracay island is located approximately 350 kilometers south of Manila.

Top Philippine Destinations

Mayon VolcanoMayon Volcano, also

known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect coneperfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape

Top Philippine Destinations

The City of ViganVigan is one of

Philippines' most beautiful cities. It is located in the northern part of the Philippines. The city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2 December 1999.

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